North Carolina scores maiden NCAA Women's Tennis National Championship, downs rivals NC State in final
In a thrilling showdown on Saturday (May 20), the University of North Carolina women's tennis team emerged triumphant, clinching their first-ever NCAA women's tennis championship. The Tar Heels showcased their dominance by defeating their formidable rivals, the NC State Wolfpack, with an impressive 4-1 victory at the prestigious USTA Campus.
With an illustrious history that includes winning the last four ITA Indoor Team National Championships, UNC solidified their position as a powerhouse in women's collegiate tennis. Adding an outdoor title to their already impressive resume further cements their status as one of the nation's premier women's tennis programs.
The Tar Heels paved their path to victory with exceptional performances from Fiona Crawley, Carson Tanguilig, and Elizabeth Scotty in the singles matches. Prior to their remarkable singles victories, Carolina set the tone for the match by clinching the doubles point earlier in the day.
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
#GoHeels x #GDTBATH https://t.co/4bAhAGFtTZ
How the UNC Tar Heels triumphed over NC State to capture NCAA Women's Tennis Championship
Carolina University made a triumphant return to the NCAA championship match after an absence spanning nearly a decade, last appearing in 2014.
This championship clash marked the third meeting this season between the Tar Heels and the Wolfpack. In the regular season matchup held in Chapel Hill, Carolina had dominated NC State with a comprehensive 7-0 victory.
However, in the ACC Championship match, the Wolfpack avenged their prior defeat by securing a convincing 4-1 win, handing the Tar Heels their only loss of the season before the NCAA finals.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 🏆
North Carolina wins its program's first NCAA National Championship!
#WeAreCollegeTennis | #NCAATennis https://t.co/30eG7S6JND
The Tar Heels took an early 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point. Despite a loss in the No. 1 doubles match, Scotty and Tanguilig secured a 6-1 victory at No. 2 against NC State's Nell Miller and Amelia Rajecki. Additionally, Reese Brantmeier and Reilly Tran triumphed with a 6-4 win at No. 3 against Sophie Abrams and Abigail Rencheli.
In singles action, NC State swiftly won three first sets, gaining momentum in the match. Diana Shnaider, currently ranked World No. 104 in the WTA singles rankings, leveled the score for the Wolfpack at 1-1 with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Reese Brantmeier at No. 1.
Later on, Crawley displayed great composure and won a crucial tiebreak in the second set, defeating Alana Smith 6-2, 7-6 at No. 2, thus reclaiming the lead for Carolina at 2-1. Tanguilig and Scotty then secured consecutive swift victories at No. 3 and No. 4, ultimately clinching the national title.